Four Gins from Germany

Right now there are four different German gins sitting in my collection so I thought it was a good chance to talk about them here. Probably the best known of all German gins internationally is Monkey 47, a superb gin and featured on my favourites of 2016 list with ease. but the other gins listed here, The Duke, Feel! and Granit should be all on your list to try if you love gin…

These have been mostly picked up in airports so I’m not sure how widely available in Ireland. Online Master of Malt is a good website to look at – they do have both The Duke and Monkey 47 in stock when I checked this week. In Dublin, Celtic Whiskey Shop is a great gin stockist also so worth checking there.

Monkey 47

Monkey 47

Monkey 47, a cult gin with a massive following. From the Black Forest in Germany, made with 47 botanicals and to 47% ABV (hence the name). This is a botanically complex gin, smooth with woody pine, grassy, citrus, some sweetness and spice. You definitely won’t be able to taste all 47 botanicals in there but you can be sure each is adding something to the blend creating this quite unique gin.

Monkey 47 is a full and rich gin, with spice, fruit and herb flavours. Dry and smooth, it makes a great Gin & Tonic; it would also make a very nice martini. And a stunning bottle design too. Also featured in my Favourite Gins of 2016 post too!

The Duke

The Duke

This is our 2nd bottle of The Duke, a super gin from Munich. Founded in 2009, The Duke is an organic Gin created in small batches. The Duke in question was the Duke of Bavaria, who was instrumental in the founding of Munich in 1158.

Crystal clear in appearance, the aroma is eucalyptus and juniper with pine needles, coriander and violet blossom. Very slightly sweet at first, juniper palate and a soft mouth feel leading to a floral finish. A perfect gin for a G&T, and one of my all time favourite gins.

Feel! Munich Dry Gin

Feel! Munich Dry Gin

One of the newest German gins I’ve tried, Feel! Munich Dry Gin is a premium gin, officially certified organic, and handcrafted in a small distillery in Munich.

17 botanicals including blueberries, elderflower, juniper, coriander and lavender. Feel! gin gives you the a typical juniper aroma on the palate followed by fruity notes, spice into floral, finishing with a defined and smooth fresh lime flavour. This is a smooth and light feeling gin, perfect with a citrus garnish.

Granit Bavarian Gin

Granit Bavarian Gin

The Penninger Distillery is a small distillery based in Bavaria in Southern Germany that has been operating for over 100 years within the same family. Granit Bavarian Gin is filtered through granite rocks, giving it it’s name.

There are 28 botanicals in Granit Bavarian Gin, all native to the Bavarian forests and land surrounding the distillery; all organic ingredients too. There are the classic gin botanicals like lemon, coriander and cardamom, combined with local ingredients, such as melissa, bald-money and the gentian root.

Granit Bavarian Gin is perfect in a Gin and Tonic – it’s a more herbal than sweet or floral. Garnish with a herb like basil and a wedge of lemon together would work well here. A very smooth and pure gin. An elegant bottle design, with the small piece of granite tied round the neck. This can be placed in the freezer to cool and use it in place of an ice cube!